Gdansk and Sopot

Founded in 980 AD Gdansk is one of Poland’s oldest cities. But as most of Poland it changes hands often. Teutonic Knights. Prussia. The free City of Danzig. Germany. Finally, Gdansk is Polish again. The vision of industry and trade. Synonymous with Shipyards signifying the great communist effort to establish the workers of the world as the backbone to the revolution. Only to see these same workers form the solidarity movement returning the Polish government to the people. Today the museum “Stocznia Gdańska” lies in the middle of the works that produced the first ship, the Soldek now anchored along the waterfront of the old city. The river still connects the city to the mainland, and the night brings out the bustle of tourists and attractions. The old town churches and cathedrals form the anchors to the renovated dutch style architecture.

To the north the town of Sopot – a Brighton Beach on the Baltic Sea, with its beaches and the world’s longest wooden pier, provides a respite. A town of Spas and sand, sailboats speed by as swans take flight.